The Supreme Court on Monday witnessed a shocking incident when a lawyer attempted to throw a shoe at Chief Justice of India BR Gavai during a court hearing. As security personnel quickly intervened and detained the accused, the man shouted, “India will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan Dharma.” Despite the chaos, Chief Justice Gavai remained calm and continued the proceedings without interruption, maintaining his composure throughout the disruption.
After the courtroom was secured, Chief Justice Gavai addressed those present, urging them to stay focused. “Don’t get distracted by all this. These things do not affect me. Continue with the hearing,” he said, underscoring his commitment to the dignity and decorum of the court.
Supreme Court lawyer Rohit Pandey later identified the accused as a practising advocate and a member of the Bar Association since 2011. Pandey suggested that the outburst was likely in reaction to the Chief Justice’s earlier comments in a case concerning a damaged Vishnu idol in Madhya Pradesh. “The act appears to have been in response to the Chief Justice’s deity remarks. I strongly condemn this incident and urge that strict action be taken against the accused,” Pandey stated.
The controversy traces back to September, when Chief Justice Gavai dismissed a plea seeking the restoration of a seven-foot Vishnu idol at the Javari temple in Madhya Pradesh. During the hearing, he reportedly told the petitioner, “This is purely a publicity interest litigation. Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now.”
The remark sparked widespread backlash, with social media users and members of the legal fraternity accusing the Chief Justice of being disrespectful toward religious sentiments. Following the criticism, Chief Justice Gavai clarified that his statement had been misrepresented and reaffirmed his respect for all religions, stressing that he never intended to offend anyone’s faith.
